Not the guy I used to be: Guy Sebastian says his views on religion have grown somewhat. Picture: Sony

Singer says his religious beliefs have changed

"My views are more based on life and discovery"

Is a vocal supporter of gay marriage

GUY Sebastian has come a long way since winning Australian Idol in 2003.

Then, he was the country's most talked-about virgin and a devout Christian. Now, Sebastian is a happily married dad and yesterday revealed his religious beliefs had also changed. A song on Sebastian's new Armageddon album, called Get Along, highlights the fear and ignorance inherent in many faith groups. The singer, 30,said he still believed in God, but is more informed about religion than he was in his youth. "My views are more based on life and discovery and research than just what I'm told," he said. "Because what I was told in regards to so many things was so wrong. I've gone from a place where I was told there was one way and only one way, to being more in a place where I don't think anyone has the right to say what they believe is more important or more significant."

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Sebastian also spoke out in favour of gay marriage.

Lupe Fiasco and Guy Sebastian. Picture: Nic Gibson

"I don't think anyone has the right to tell someone who they can and can't be in love with," he said. "You look back at the unfair things that happen in history and this will be looked back on as one of those things. "People will think 'Oh my gosh I can't believe the world was in that state, that they held those views'. "It's pretty unfair for people to not be able to claim the same benefits, that's ridiculous."

Portrait of Guy Sebastian on location where he was shooting his new video clip. Photo: Sony

Another new song, Died And Gone To Heaven, is an ode to love-making.

"It was definitely a world that opened up for me and it was great," Sebastian said. "I'm very lucky to still be in love and still have a wife I'm very attracted to. It was worth the wait."

Sebastian also revealed his No.1 hit, Battle Scars, was almost the victim of record company politics.

Guy Sebastian and wife Jules in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

The track features US rapper Lupe Fiasco, whose Australian record label tried to stop the song being released. "They thought if Lupe Fiasco worked with Guy Sebastian, Triple J would never play him again," he said. "The head of Warner in Australia rang up Atlantic, Lupe's label in the US... and said `If you do this it'll be the end of Lupe's career in Australia, he's an idiot for wanting to do this'. They actually put a block on it."

Australian singer Guy Sebastian. Picture: Sony Music

Warner Music in Australia declined to comment on Sebastian's statements.Battle Scars has gone triple platinum in Australia and Fiasco included the song on the American version of his album. It has become Sebastian's first US Top 100 hit.Armageddon will be released tomorrow.